chimney the blue smoke curled peacefully
into the air, sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows, while from
the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd's pipe. The
strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted the gnome that
he never thought of resenting the intrusion of these unexpected guests,
who, without saying 'by your leave' or 'with your leave,' had made
themselves so very much at home upon is hills; nor did he wish to
interfere with their doings, but left them in quiet possession of their
homes, as a good householder leaves in peace the swallows who have
built their nests under his eaves. He was indeed greatly minded to make
friends with this being called 'man,' so, taking the form of an old
field labourer, he entered the service of a farmer. Under his care all
the crops flourished exceedingly, but the master proved to be wasteful
and ungrateful, and Rubezahl soon left him, and went to be shepherd to
his next neighbour. He tended the flock so diligently, and knew so well
where to lead the sheep to the sweetest pastures, and where among the
hills to look for any who strayed away, that they too prospered under
his care, and not one was lost or torn by wolves; but this new master
was a hard man, and begrudged him his well-earned wages. So he ran away
and went to serve the judge. Here he upheld the law with might and main,
and was a terror to thieves and evildoers; but the judge was a bad man,
who took bribes, and despised the law. Rubezahl would not be the tool of
an unjust man, and so he told his master, who thereupon ordered him to
be thrown in prison. Of course that did not trouble the gnome at all,
he simply got out through the keyhole, and went away down to his
underground palace, very much disappointed by his first experience of
mankind. But, as time went on, he forgot the disagreeable things that
had happened to him, and thought he would take another look at the upper
world.

So he stole into the valley, keeping himself carefully hidden in copse
or hedgerow, and very soon met with an adventure; for, peeping through a
screen of leaves, he saw before him a green lawn where stood a charming
maiden, fresh as the spring, and beautiful to look upon. Around her upon
the grass lay her young companions, as if they had thrown themselves
down to rest after some merry game. Beyond them flowed a little brook,
into which a waterfall leapt from a high rock, filling the air with its
pleasant sound, and